NLWest_Los Angeles Dodgers

2014 Boston Gameday HQ

Los Angeles Dodgers
5-YEAR SCORECARD
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
WINS 92 86 82 80 95
RUNS PER GAME 4.01 3.93 4.00 4.12 4.81
RUNS ALLOWED PER GAME 3.59 3.69 3.80 4.27 3.77
OPENING-DAY PAYROLL (millions) $216 $105 $119 $102 $100
2014 STRENGTHS:
• Balanced hitting
• Strong pitching
• Good defense
2014 WEAKNESSES:
• Slow season starts
• Weak up-the-middle defense
It’s been two years since Guggenheim
Baseball Management bought the
Dodgers. Since then, they have gone on
$177 million (2012) and $254 million
(2013) spending sprees that would have
made the late George Steinbrenner
blush. As sports chemistry majors
know, third year is normally the charm
and that’s what Dodgers ownership is
banking on in 2014 at the cost of an
MLB-topping $216 million.
HITTING
The Big Blue Wrecking Crew boasts a
2-thru-5 portion of the lineup that can measure
up with anyone in baseball, with past-andpresent
MVP candidates Yasiel Puig, Andre
Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez,
each having 100-run or RBI potential. That
quartet only played 532 individual games in
2013, and L.A. still won 92 games. Imagine
what could happen if they played 600
individual games in 2014. Tack on standout
outfielders Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp, who
is recently back from an ankle injury, and you’re
talking about team depth that is tough to top.
Glue guys Juan Uribe and A.J. Ellis are back
in the starting lineup as well. The Dodgers
also went on an International shopping trip
when they acquired Alex Guerrero, a top-flight
shortstop from Cuba who has both power and
speed. Guerrero will begin the year in the
minors as he transitions to second base.
Clayton Kershaw
NL WEST
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